Audio component drainage system for image capture device

ABSTRACT

A device includes an audio assembly and a housing defining an aperture that interfaces with the audio assembly at an interior surface of the housing. The device includes stanchions coupled to an exterior surface of the housing at a location of the aperture and a cover coupled to the stanchions and free of contact with the housing. The device includes a drainage channel extending between the cover, the exterior surface of the housing, and the stanchions. The drainage channel includes a first portion defining an inlet of the drainage channel, and the first portion has a first width defined by the stanchions. The drainage channel includes a second portion defining an outlet of the drainage channel, and the second portion has a second width defined by the stanchions. The stanchions are tapered in shape so that the first width is wider than the second width.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/372,611, filed Apr. 2, 2019, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to an audio system for a submersibledevice. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a drainage systemfor a microphone or a speaker that moves liquid away from the microphoneor the speaker after the device emerges from water.

BACKGROUND

Photography during physical activity has been improved by use ofsimple-to-operate, lightweight, compact cameras. These cameras can beused in a variety of environments, including environments where thecamera will be exposed to water such as beaches, lakes, pools, oceans,etc. In these environments, the camera can be splashed, submerged, orotherwise inundated with water, impacting performance of an audioassembly within the camera that relies on air as a transmission mediumto provide ambient audio, for example, in the form of audio signalsand/or sound waves to the audio assembly. The presence of liquids suchas water can distort or block the ambient audio from reaching the audioassembly within the camera.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are implementations of an audio component drainagesystem for an electronic device.

In one embodiment, a device includes an audio assembly and a housingdefining an aperture that interfaces with the audio assembly at aninterior surface of the housing. The device includes stanchions coupledto an exterior surface of the housing at a location of the aperture anda cover coupled to the stanchions and free of contact with the housing.The device includes a drainage channel extending between the cover, theexterior surface of the housing, and the stanchions. The drainagechannel includes a first portion defining an inlet of the drainagechannel, and the first portion has a first width defined by thestanchions. The drainage channel includes a second portion defining anoutlet of the drainage channel, and the second portion has a secondwidth defined by the stanchions. The stanchions are tapered in shape sothat the first width is wider than the second width.

In one embodiment, a drainage system includes a cover depression havingan upper level and a lower level defined in a housing of a device, andthe upper level extends across an aperture defined through the housingand being staggered in depth into the housing relative to the lowerlevel. The device includes an audio assembly positioned at a location ofthe aperture. The drainage system includes a cover extending over thecover depression to define a drainage channel that extends from aninlet, over the audio assembly, across the upper level and the lowerlevel of the cover depression, and to an outlet to drain moisture fromthe audio assembly. The inlet interfaces with the upper level, and theoutlet interfaces with the lower level.

In one embodiment, an image capture device includes a housing includingan exterior surface defining a depression, an opening within thedepression, and a sloped structure along the depression. The imagecapture device includes an audio assembly disposed adjacent to theopening and a cover coupled with the housing over the depression. Theimage capture device includes an inlet positioned between a first edgeof the cover and the housing, and the inlet is used to facilitate a flowof liquid within the depression and over the audio assembly. The imagecapture device includes an outlet positioned between a second edge ofthe cover and the housing, and the outlet is used to facilitate the flowof the liquid across the audio assembly and out of the depression. Theimage capture device includes a drainage channel fluidly connecting theinlet and the outlet between the housing and the cover, and a shape ofthe drainage channel tapers from the inlet to the outlet.

Additional embodiments are described in further detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is best understood from the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Itis emphasized that, according to common practice, the various featuresof the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of thevarious features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

FIGS. 1A-1B are isometric views of an example of an image capturedevice.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the image capture device of FIGS.1A-B.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of an image capture system.

FIG. 3A is a front detail view of a drainage system.

FIG. 3B is a front detail view of the drainage system of FIG. 3A withoutthe cover.

FIGS. 4A-4C are sectional views of the drainage system of FIGS. 3A-3B asthe drainage system moves from submerged in water to emerged from water.

FIG. 5A is a front detail view of another drainage system.

FIG. 5B is a front detail view of the drainage system of FIG. 5A withoutthe cover.

FIG. 6A is a front detail view of a drainage system.

FIG. 6B is a front detail view of the drainage system of FIG. 6A withoutthe cover.

FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the drainage system of FIGS. 6A-6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Performance of an audio assembly disposed within a housing of an imagecapture device or other electronic device with audio components can beimproved using an efficiently-designed drainage system that both allowsambient audio (e.g. audio signals and/or sound waves) to reach the audioassembly and moves moisture away from the audio assembly. For example,an image capture device using a drainage system can include a housingdefining an audio aperture and an audio assembly coupled to the housingat a location of the audio aperture. The drainage system can include acover coupled to the housing, with the cover configured to protect theaudio assembly from an environment external to the image capture device.The cover can define apertures that allow both air and liquid to flowthrough the cover to reach the audio assembly. The drainage system caninclude a drainage channel defined between the cover and the housingthat is configured to allow air to reach the audio assembly and to drainmoisture from the audio assembly when the image capture device emergesfrom a liquid such as water.

FIGS. 1A-B illustrate an example of an image capture device 100. Theimage capture device 100 includes a housing or body 102 and two cameralenses 104, 106 disposed on opposing surfaces of the body 102, forexample, in a back-to-back or Janus configuration.

The image capture device may include electronics (e.g., imagingelectronics, power electronics, etc.) internal to the body 102 forcapturing images via the lenses 104, 106 and/or performing otherfunctions. The image capture device may include various indicators suchas an LED light 112 and an LCD display 114.

The image capture device 100 may include various input mechanisms suchas buttons, switches, and touchscreen mechanisms. For example, the imagecapture device 100 may include buttons 116 configured to allow a user ofthe image capture device 100 to interact with the image capture device100, to turn the image capture device 100 on, and to otherwise configurethe operating mode of the image capture device 100. In animplementation, the image capture device 100 includes a power button anda mode button. It should be appreciated, however, that, in alternateembodiments, the image capture device 100 may include additional buttonsto support and/or control additional functionality.

The image capture device 100 may also include one or more audiocomponents 118 such as microphones configured to receive and recordaudio signals (e.g., voice or other audio commands) in conjunction withrecording video or in connection with audible control commands and/orspeakers configured to provide alerts or notifications. In the exampleshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, four audio components 118 are shown usingrepresentative patterns of apertures or depressions extending partiallyinto or fully through the housing or body 102, though any number ofaudio components 118, such as one, two, four, or six may be used. Theapertures or depressions may be a combination of design features formedas depressions in the housing or body 102 and apertures that extendfully through the housing or body 102. The patterns of apertures anddepressions are designed to allow the audio components 118, for example,microphones, that are disposed within the housing or body 102 proximateto locations of the apertures and depressions (i.e., nearby) to captureambient audio from an environment external to the housing or body 102 ofthe image capture device 100.

The image capture device 100 may include an interactive display 120 thatallows for interaction with the image capture device 100 whilesimultaneously displaying information on a surface of the image capturedevice 100.

The image capture device 100 may be made of a rigid material such asplastic, aluminum, steel, or fiberglass. In some embodiments, the imagecapture device 100 described herein includes features other than thosedescribed. For example, instead of or in addition to the interactivedisplay 120, the image capture device 100 may include additionalinterfaces or different interface features such as I/O interfaces. Inanother example, the image capture device 100 may include additionalbuttons or different interface features, such as interchangeable lenses,cold shoes, and hot shoes that can add functional features to the imagecapture device 100, etc. In another example, the image capture device100 may include a single image sensor and/or lens or more than two imagesensors and/or lenses.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the image capture device 100 ofFIGS. 1A-B. The image capture device 100 is configured to capturespherical images, and accordingly, includes a first image capture device124 and a second image capture device 126. The first image capturedevice 124 defines a first field-of-view 128 as shown in FIG. 1C andincludes the lens 104 that receives and directs light onto a first imagesensor 130.

Similarly, the second image capture device 126 defines a secondfield-of-view 132 as shown in FIG. 1C and includes the lens 106 thatreceives and directs light onto a second image sensor 134. To facilitatethe capture of spherical images, the image capture devices 124, 126 (andrelated components) may be arranged in a back-to-back (Janus)configuration such that the lenses 104, 106 face in generally oppositedirections.

The fields-of-view 128, 132 of the lenses 104, 106 are shown above andbelow boundaries 136, 138, respectively. Behind the first lens 104, thefirst image sensor 130 may capture a first hyper-hemispherical imageplane from light entering the first lens 104, and behind the second lens106, the second image sensor 134 may capture a secondhyper-hemispherical image plane from light entering the second lens 106.

One or more areas, such as blind spots 140, 142 may be outside of thefields-of-view 128, 132 of the lenses 104, 106 so as to define a “deadzone.” In the dead zone, light may be obscured from the lenses 104, 106and the corresponding image sensors 130, 134, and content in the blindspots 140, 142 may be omitted from capture. In some implementations, theimage capture devices 124, 126 may be configured to minimize the blindspots 140, 142.

The fields-of-view 128, 132 may overlap. Stitch points 144, 146,proximal to the image capture device 100, at which the fields-of-view128, 132 overlap may be referred to herein as overlap points or stitchpoints. Content captured by the respective lenses 104, 106, distal tothe stitch points 144, 146, may overlap.

Images contemporaneously captured by the respective image sensors 130,134 may be combined to form a combined image. Combining the respectiveimages may include correlating the overlapping regions captured by therespective image sensors 130, 134, aligning the captured fields-of-view128, 132, and stitching the images together to form a cohesive combinedimage.

A slight change in the alignment, such as position and/or tilt, of thelenses 104, 106, the image sensors 130, 134, or both, may change therelative positions of their respective fields-of-view 128, 132 and thelocations of the stitch points 144, 146. A change in alignment mayaffect the size of the blind spots 140, 142, which may include changingthe size of the blind spots 140, 142 unequally.

Incomplete or inaccurate information indicating the alignment of theimage capture devices 124, 126, such as the locations of the stitchpoints 144, 146, may decrease the accuracy, efficiency, or both ofgenerating a combined image. In some implementations, the image capturedevice 100 may maintain information indicating the location andorientation of the lenses 104, 106 and the image sensors 130, 134 suchthat the fields-of-view 128, 132, stitch points 144, 146, or both may beaccurately determined, which may improve the accuracy, efficiency, orboth of generating a combined image.

The lenses 104, 106 may be laterally offset from each other, may beoff-center from a central axis of the image capture device 100, or maybe laterally offset and off-center from the central axis. As compared toimage capture devices with back-to-back lenses, such as lenses alignedalong the same axis, image capture devices including laterally offsetlenses may include substantially reduced thickness relative to thelengths of the lens barrels securing the lenses. For example, theoverall thickness of the image capture device 100 may be close to thelength of a single lens barrel as opposed to twice the length of asingle lens barrel as in a back-to-back configuration. Reducing thelateral distance between the lenses 104, 106 may improve the overlap inthe fields-of-view 128, 132.

Images or frames captured by the image capture devices 124, 126 may becombined, merged, or stitched together to produce a combined image, suchas a spherical or panoramic image, which may be an equirectangularplanar image. In some implementations, generating a combined image mayinclude three-dimensional, or spatiotemporal, noise reduction (3DNR). Insome implementations, pixels along the stitch boundary may be matchedaccurately to minimize boundary discontinuities.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of an image capture system 200.The image capture system 200 includes an image capture device 210 whichmay, for example, be the image capture device 100 shown in FIGS. 1A-C.

The image capture device 210 includes a processing apparatus 212 that isconfigured to receive a first image from a first image sensor 214 andreceive a second image from a second image sensor 216. The image capturedevice 210 includes a communications interface 218 for transferringimages to other devices. The image capture device 210 includes a userinterface 220 to allow a user to control image capture functions and/orview images. The image capture device 210 includes a battery 222 forpowering the image capture device 210. The components of the imagecapture device 210 may communicate with each other via the bus 224.

The processing apparatus 212 may be configured to perform image signalprocessing (e.g., filtering, tone mapping, stitching, and/or encoding)to generate output images based on image data from the image sensors 214and 216. The processing apparatus 212 may include one or more processorshaving single or multiple processing cores. The processing apparatus 212may include memory, such as a random-access memory device (RAM), flashmemory, or another suitable type of storage device such as anon-transitory computer-readable memory. The memory of the processingapparatus 212 may include executable instructions and data that can beaccessed by one or more processors of the processing apparatus 212.

For example, the processing apparatus 212 may include one or moredynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules, such as double data ratesynchronous dynamic random-access memory (DDR SDRAM). In someimplementations, the processing apparatus 212 may include a digitalsignal processor (DSP). In some implementations, the processingapparatus 212 may include an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC). For example, the processing apparatus 212 may include a customimage signal processor.

The first image sensor 214 and the second image sensor 216 may beconfigured to detect light of a certain spectrum (e.g., the visiblespectrum or the infrared spectrum) and convey information constitutingan image as electrical signals (e.g., analog or digital signals). Forexample, the image sensors 214 and 216 may include CCDs or active pixelsensors in a CMOS. The image sensors 214 and 216 may detect lightincident through a respective lens (e.g., a fisheye lens). In someimplementations, the image sensors 214 and 216 include digital-to-analogconverters. In some implementations, the image sensors 214 and 216 areheld in a fixed orientation with respective fields of view that overlap.

The communications interface 218 may enable communications with apersonal computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a laptopcomputer, or a desktop computer). For example, the communicationsinterface 218 may be used to receive commands controlling image captureand processing in the image capture device 210. For example, thecommunications interface 218 may be used to transfer image data to apersonal computing device. For example, the communications interface 218may include a wired interface, such as a high-definition multimediainterface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, or a FireWireinterface. For example, the communications interface 218 may include awireless interface, such as a Bluetooth interface, a ZigBee interface,and/or a Wi-Fi interface.

The user interface 220 may include an LCD display for presenting imagesand/or messages to a user. For example, the user interface 220 mayinclude a button or switch enabling a person to manually turn the imagecapture device 210 on and off. For example, the user interface 220 mayinclude a shutter button for snapping pictures.

The battery 222 may power the image capture device 210 and/or itsperipherals or functional features, for example, the microphones and thespeakers that serve as the audio components 118 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. Thebattery 222 may be charged wirelessly or through a micro-USB interface.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front detail views of a drainage system 300 for animage capture device. The image capture device may be similar to theimage capture device 100 described in reference to FIGS. 1A-1C. Forexample, the image capture device may include electronics (e.g., imagingelectronics, power electronics, etc.) internal to a body or housing 302for capturing images via lenses and/or performing other functions suchas image processing. The image capture device may also include variousindicators and interfaces such as lights, buttons, and/or displays inother locations on the housing 302 (not shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) thatallow a user to interact with the image capture device. Only a portionof the housing 302 is shown in the detail views of FIGS. 3A and 3B toallow for clarity in description of the drainage system 300.

The drainage system 300 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is used to drainliquids such as water from an audio assembly 304 (FIG. 3B) disposedwithin, on, and/or through the housing 302 of the image capture device.The drainage system 300 and the audio assembly 304 may be located on asurface of the image capture device, such as a front face or a rear faceof the housing 302, in a position similar to that shown for the audiocomponents 118 located adjacent to the lenses 104, 106 of the imagecapture device 100 in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Other locations for the drainagesystem 300 and the audio assembly 304 on the image capture device arealso possible. In addition, multiple drainage systems 300 may be presentto drain liquid from multiple audio assemblies 304 on a single imagecapture device.

The drainage system 300 includes a cover 306 (FIG. 3A) that protects theaudio assembly 304 disposed beneath the cover 306 from an environmentexternal to the image capture device. For example, the audio assembly304 can be delicate, flexible, and/or otherwise susceptible to damagebased on impact from touch, debris, etc. The cover 306 may include oneor more cover apertures 308 a configured to allow ambient audio to passthrough the cover 306 to the audio assembly 304, for example, when theimage capture device is operating outside of a liquid environment. Thecover apertures 308 a shown in FIG. 3A are located both adjacent to andoutboard of the audio assembly 304 shown in FIG. 3B in respect to thehousing 302 when the cover 306 is secured to the housing 302, allowing ashort path for ambient audio to travel through the cover apertures 308 ain the cover 306 to the audio assembly 304.

The cover 306 may define additional cover apertures 308 b both proximateto and/or spaced from to the cover aperture 308 a that are arranged in apattern configured to drain moisture through the cover 306 when theimage capture device emerges from a liquid. In the example of FIG. 3A,the cover apertures 308 a, 308 b are shown as part of a rectangularpattern of rows and columns, though other patterns are also possible. Inaddition, some or all of the cover apertures 308 a, 308 b may be formedas detents in the cover 306, not through holes, in which case neitherambient audio nor liquid would pass through the cover 306 at thelocation the dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures (not shown).Dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures may serve as industrial designfeatures for the image capture device, whereas the through-hole typecover apertures 308 a, 308 b allow air, liquid, or both to travelthrough the cover 306.

The housing 302 may define an audio aperture 310. The audio assembly 304may be coupled to the housing 302 at the location of the audio aperture310. In this way, ambient audio can pass through or around the cover 306and into the audio assembly 304 via the audio aperture 310. A singleaudio aperture 310 is shown as defined through the housing 302 in FIG.3B, but multiple audio apertures are also possible, and the size, shape,and number of audio apertures depend on the construction and location ofthe audio assembly 304. For example, the audio assembly 304 may includea single microphone (not shown) that is configured to convert ambientaudio into an electrical signal. The microphone may be coupled to aninterior surface of the housing 302 at the location of the single audioaperture 310.

The audio assembly 304 may also include a waterproof membrane 312 thatis configured to allow ambient audio to pass through the audio aperture310 to components of the audio assembly 304. At the same time, thewaterproof membrane 312 prevents moisture from passing through the audioaperture 310 to prevent damage or hindered performance, for example, ofa microphone disposed within the housing 302. In the example shown inFIG. 3B, the waterproof membrane 312 is coupled to an exterior surfaceof the housing 302 in a manner that covers the audio aperture 310 and issized larger than the audio aperture 310 in order to provide thewaterproofing feature.

The drainage system 300 includes an inlet 314 defined between thehousing 302 and the cover 306. The inlet 314 is an opening between afirst edge 316 of the cover 306 and a cover depression 318 defined inthe housing 302. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the first edge 316 isan upper edge, though other edges of the cover 306 could serve as thefirst edge as well. The cover depression 318 is shown as a rounded-edgedbowl or basin that receives the cover 306 such that an exterior surfaceof the cover 306 is coplanar with an exterior surface of the housing302. The inlet 314 allows both air and fluid to enter the drainagesystem 300 can be a path of least resistance for ambient audio to enterthe audio assembly 304 when the image capture device that includes thehousing 302 is held in the orientation shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The drainage system 300 includes an outlet 320 defined between thehousing 302 and the cover 306. The outlet 320 is an opening between asecond edge 322 of the cover 306 and the cover depression 318 defined inthe housing 302. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the second edge 322 isa lower edge that runs generally parallel to the first edge 316, thoughother edges of the cover 306 could serve as the second edge as well (forexample, edges that are perpendicular instead of parallel to the firstedge 316). The outlet 320 allows fluid to exit the drainage system 300when the image capture device that includes the housing 302 is held inthe orientation shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Additional details related tothe movement of fluid through the drainage system 300 are described inrespect to FIGS. 4A-4C as is indicated by the sectional designation inFIG. 3A.

The drainage system 300 includes a drainage channel 324 that extendsfrom the inlet 314 to the outlet 320 between an interior surface of thecover 306 and an exterior surface of the housing 302 in order to drainmoisture from the audio assembly 304 when the image capture deviceincluding the housing 302 emerges from liquid (e.g., from water). In theexample of FIG. 3B, the exterior surface of the housing 302 is anexterior surface of the cover depression 318 defined in the housing 302.The drainage channel 324 also runs between cover stanchions 326, 328that rise out of the cover depression 318 to allow the cover 306 to besecured over the drainage channel 324, for example, using adhesive pads330, 332 coupled to tops of the cover stanchions 326, 328. The width Wof the drainage channel 324 may be between 5 mm and 10 mm, for example.Though two cover stanchions 326, 328 and adhesive pads 330, 332 areshown for adhering the cover 306 to the housing 302 and defining thesides of the drainage channel 324, other numbers and/or locations forthese components are also possible.

The size and shape of the inlet 314 and the outlet 320 are such thatambient audio is able to pass through the inlet 314 along the drainagechannel 324 to the audio assembly 304 at a predetermined time periodafter the image capture device including the housing 302 emerges from aliquid (e.g., water) even if the cover apertures 308 a, 308 b and alower portion of the drainage channel 324 remain blocked by the liquid.This predetermined time period may be from 0-3 seconds or from 0-5seconds, for example. This is an improvement when compared to a timeperiod required to allow apertures exposed to liquid to air dry. Forexample, air drying wet apertures may take 15-30 minutes depending onambient conditions. Performance of the audio assembly 304 after theimage capture device emerges from liquid is thus greatly improved due tothe presence of the drainage channel 324.

FIGS. 4A-4C are sectional views of the drainage system 300 of FIGS.3A-3B as the drainage system 300 moves from submerged in water as shownin FIG. 4A to emerged from water as shown in FIG. 4C. The housing 302 ofthe image capture device is shown in cross-section with the audioassembly 304 disposed beneath the cover 306. The upper cover apertures308 a move from occluded with liquid in FIG. 4A to empty of liquid inFIG. 4C as the image capture device including the housing 302 emerges,for example, from water. The lower cover apertures 308 b remain occludedwith liquid in all three of FIGS. 4A-4C as the predetermined time periodbetween the positions in each of the FIGS. 4A-4C is short, such as 0 to5 seconds, and surface tension prevents some of the liquid from escapingthe lower cover apertures 308 b.

The audio assembly 304 is shown in detail as disposed on two sides ofthe audio aperture 310. For example, the waterproof membrane 312 isshown in a position exterior to the audio aperture 310 and a microphone400 is shown in a position interior to the audio aperture 310 as theaudio aperture 310 is defined in the housing 302. The microphone 400 canbe coupled to the housing 302, for example, by being disposed on aprinted circuit board (PCB) 402 that is press fit or otherwise securedto the housing 302 using a gasket 404. Other means of aligning andsecuring the microphone 400 to the housing 302 are also possible. Thewaterproof membrane 312 can be coupled to the housing 302, for example,using an adhesive 406 to secure the waterproof membrane 312 to thehousing 302 across the audio aperture 310. Other means of aligning andsecuring the waterproof membrane 312 to the housing 302 are alsopossible.

The drainage system 300 includes the inlet 314 defined between the firstedge 316 of the cover 306 and the surface of the cover depression 318,the outlet 320 defined between the second edge 322 of the cover 306 andthe surface of the cover depression 318, and the drainage channel 324extending between the inlet 314 and the outlet 320, behind the cover306, along the outer surfaces of the cover depression 318 and thewaterproof membrane 312. In this example, the outer surfaces of thecover depression 318 and the waterproof membrane 312 are generallycoplanar to encourage liquid drainage through the drainage channel 324as is shown in the progression of water levels from FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C.

In order to encourage rapid removal of fluid (e.g., water) from thewaterproof membrane 312 of the audio assembly 304 while constraining theoverall size of the drainage system 300, the audio assembly 304 and theaudio aperture 310 can be located a predetermined distance A from theoutlet 320 of the drainage system 300. For example, the distance A maybe between 5 mm and 10 mm. In contrast, a depth B of the drainagechannel 324, a thickness C of the cover 306, and a height D of the coverapertures 308 a, 308 b may have smaller values, for example, rangingbetween 0.5 mm and 2 mm in order to allow the inlet 314, the outlet 320,and the drainage channel 324 to encourage fluid flow across and awayfrom the audio assembly 304 in a manner that both takes advantage ofgravity and sufficiently overcomes surface tension in a short timeperiod (e.g., a time period between 0 and 5 seconds). As seen in FIG. 4Band FIG. 4C, though water remains at a lower end of the drainage channel324 and within the lower cover apertures 308 b due to surface tension,ambient audio can reach the audio assembly 304 via both the inlet 314and the upper cover apertures 308 a very quickly given the constructionof the drainage channel 324.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are front detail views of another drainage system 500for an image capture device. The drainage system 500 may be similar tothe drainage system 300 described in reference to FIGS. 3A-3B and FIGS.4A-4C. Only a portion of a housing 502 is shown in the detail views ofFIGS. 5A and 5B to allow for clarity in description of the drainagesystem 500. The drainage system 500 is used to drain liquids from anaudio assembly 504 (FIG. 5B) disposed within, on, and/or through thehousing 502 of the image capture device.

The drainage system 500 includes a cover 506 (FIG. 5A) that protects theaudio assembly 504 disposed beneath the cover 506 from an environmentexternal to the image capture device. The cover 506 may include one ormore cover apertures 508 configured to allow ambient audio to passthrough the cover 506 to the audio assembly 504, for example, when theimage capture device is operating outside of a liquid environment. Thecover apertures 508 shown in FIG. 5A are located both adjacent to andoutboard of the audio assembly 504 shown in FIG. 5B in respect to thehousing 502 when the cover 506 is secured to the housing 502, allowing ashort path for ambient audio to travel through the cover apertures 508in the cover 506 to the audio assembly 504.

In the example of FIG. 5A, the cover apertures 508 are shown as part ofa cross-shaped pattern of rows and columns, though other patterns arealso possible. In addition, some or all of the cover apertures 508 maybe detents in the cover 506, not through holes, in which case neitherambient audio nor liquid would pass through the cover 506 at thelocation the dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures (not shown).Dummy-type or detent-only cover apertures may serve as industrial designfeatures for the image capture device, whereas the through-hole typecover apertures 508 allow air, liquid, or both to travel through thecover 506.

The housing 502 may define an audio aperture 510. The audio assembly 504may be coupled to the housing 502 at the location of the audio aperture310. In this way, ambient audio can pass through or around the cover 506and into the audio assembly 504 via the audio aperture 510. A single,centrally-located audio aperture 510 is shown as defined through thehousing 502 in FIG. 5B, but multiple audio apertures are also possible,and the size, shape, location, and number of audio apertures depend onthe construction and location of the audio assembly 504. For example,the audio assembly 504 may include a single microphone (not shown) thatis configured to convert ambient audio into an electrical signal. Themicrophone may be coupled to an interior surface of the housing 502 atthe location of the single audio aperture 510.

The audio assembly 504 may also include a waterproof membrane 512 thatis configured to allow ambient audio to pass through the audio aperture510 to components of the audio assembly 504. At the same time, thewaterproof membrane 512 prevents moisture from passing through the audioaperture 510 to prevent damage or hindered performance, for example, ofa microphone disposed within the housing 502. In the example shown inFIG. 5B, the waterproof membrane 512 is coupled to an exterior surfaceof the housing 502 in a manner that covers the audio aperture 510 and issized larger than the audio aperture 510 in order to provide thewaterproofing feature. Coupling of the waterproof membrane 512 and thehousing may be achieved, for example, using adhesive (not shown).

The drainage system 500 includes an inlet 514 defined between thehousing 502 and the cover 506. The inlet 514 is an opening between afirst edge 516 of the cover 506 and a cover depression 518 defined inthe housing 502. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the first edge 516 isan upper edge, though other edges of the cover 506 could serve as thefirst edge as well. The cover depression 518 is shown as a rounded-edgedbowl or basin that receives the cover 506 such that an exterior surfaceof the cover 506 is coplanar with an exterior surface of the housing502. The inlet 514 allows both air and fluid to enter the drainagesystem 500.

The drainage system 500 includes an outlet 520 defined between thehousing 502 and the cover 506. The outlet 520 is an opening between asecond edge 522 of the cover 506 and the cover depression 518 defined inthe housing 502. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the second edge 522 isa side edge that runs both adjacent to and generally perpendicular tothe first edge 516, though other edges of the cover 506 could serve asthe second edge as well (for example, edges that are parallel instead ofperpendicular to the first edge 516). The outlet 520 allows fluid toexit the drainage system 500 when the image capture device that includesthe housing 502 emerges from a liquid in an orientation rotated ninetydegrees counter-clockwise from the orientation shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.In other words, the outlet 520 allows liquid to drain from the drainagesystem 500 when an imaging device including the housing 502 emerges fromliquid while held sideways, for example, by a user pulling the imagingdevice from the liquid.

The drainage system 500 includes a drainage channel 524 that extendsfrom the inlet 514 to the outlet 520 between an interior surface of thecover 506 and an exterior surface of the housing 502 in order to drainmoisture from the audio assembly 504 when the image capture deviceincluding the housing 502 emerges from a liquid (e.g., from water). Inthe example of FIG. 5B, the exterior surface of the housing 502 is anexterior surface of the cover depression 518 defined in the housing 502.The drainage channel 524 also runs between cover stanchions 526, 528that rise out of the cover depression 518 to allow the cover 506 to besecured over the drainage channel 524, for example, using adhesive pads530, 532 coupled to tops of the cover stanchions 526, 528.

Though two cover stanchions 526, 528 and adhesive pads 530, 532 arenumbered in FIG. 5B, a total of four cover stanchions and adhesive padsare present to adhere the cover 506 to the housing 502 and define thesides of the various possible drainage channels (including the drainagechannel 524) that would act to allow air to reach and to remove liquidfrom the audio assembly 504 depending on an orientation of the housing502 of the image capture device as it emerges from a liquid. In theexample of FIG. 5B, there are four possible drainage channels, some ofwhich would drain liquid at the same time should the housing 502 emergefrom a liquid at an orientation, for example, forty-five degrees fromthe shown orientation in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Similarly, though the inlet514 and the outlet 520 are as indicated, there are four possible inletsand outlets for the drainage system 500 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, with theentry and exit of both air and liquid dependent upon an orientation ofthe housing 502. Other numbers and/or locations for the stanchion andadhesive components are also possible.

The size and shape of the inlet 514 and the outlet 520 are such thatambient audio is able to pass through the inlet 514 along the drainagechannel 524 to the audio assembly 504 at a predetermined time periodafter the image capture device including the housing 502 emerges from aliquid (e.g., water) even if the cover apertures 508 and a portion ofthe drainage channel 524 remain blocked by the liquid. Thispredetermined time period may be from 0-3 seconds, for example. Adistance between the cover stanchions 526, 528 may be similar in valueto a distance between the cover stanchions 326, 328 of FIGS. 3A and 3B,making a width of the drainage channel 524 similar to the width W of thedrainage channel 324 at a location of the stanchions 326, 328.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are front detail views of a drainage system 600. Thedrainage system 600 moves liquid (e.g., water or another liquid, notshown) across or through a housing 602 so that an audio assembly 604(FIGS. 6B and 6C) is kept free of obstruction from the liquid. Disposedon the housing 602 and covering the audio assembly 604, a cover 606(FIGS. 6A and 6C) forms an upper portion of the drainage system 600, andthe housing 602 forms a bottom portion and/or side portions of thedrainage system 600. Thus, the audio assembly 604 is protected fromphysical external interference. In this configuration, the cover 606includes apertures 608 (FIGS. 6A and 6C), which are similar to theapertures 308 a, 308 b, 508 of FIGS. 3A, 4A-4C, and 5A to assist withdraining or moving the liquid away from the audio assembly 604 whilestill protecting the audio assembly 604. In some examples, the apertures608 are patterned over the audio assembly 604 to improve audioprojection and reception and to drain liquid from the drainage system600. In other configurations, the apertures 608 may be absent from thecover 606.

The audio assembly 604 functions to receive sound, project sound, orboth from below a surface of the housing 602, and the audio assembly 604may be similar to the audio assemblies 304, 504 of FIGS. 3B, 4A-4C, and5B. The housing 602 includes an audio aperture 610 defined within orthrough the housing 602. Attached to an interior portion of the housing602, an audio device 611 (FIG. 6C) (e.g., a microphone) of the audioassembly 604 may be positioned within the audio aperture 610 (FIGS. 6Band 6C) and protected by a waterproof membrane 612 (FIGS. 6B and 6C).

The entire drainage system 600 functions to move the liquid quickly andefficiently over the audio assembly 604 so that the audio assembly 604remains partially unobstructed by the liquid. At an inlet 614 positionedbetween a first edge 616 (FIG. 6A) of the cover 606 and an edge of thehousing 602, the liquid can pass through a cover depression 618 (FIGS.6A and 6B) defined within the housing 602 because the cover depression618 is in a plane below the cover 606. On the other side of the cover606, an outlet 620 is positioned between a second edge 622 of the cover606 (FIG. 6A) and the housing 602. The outlet 620 is used to move theliquid away from the audio assembly 604 and the drainage system 600.With this configuration, the liquid can be flushed from the audioassembly 604 through the inlet 614, between the cover 606 and the audioassembly 604, and out the outlet 620, which improves the audiocapabilities of the audio assembly 604.

The inlet 614, the cover 606, the housing 602, and the outlet 620collectively form a drainage channel 624 (FIGS. 6B and 6C) that passesthrough stanchions 626, 628 (FIG. 6B) for facilitating movement of theliquid and supporting the cover 606 above the housing 602. Thestanchions 626, 628 may couple the cover 606 to the housing 602. Thestanchions 626, 628 may be similar or function similarly to thestanchions 326, 328, 526, 528 of FIGS. 3B and 5B. The stanchions 626,628, in tandem, form a tapered or funneled shape for the drainagechannel 624 for directing the liquid downstream of the audio assembly604. While directing the liquid downstream, some of the liquid may bedrained by way of the apertures 608, which creates a combinationdrainage configuration that keeps the audio assembly 604 free of liquidobstruction. In some configurations, more than two stanchions (e.g.,FIG. 5B) may be used to both direct the liquid down a tapered orfunneled pathway and direct the liquid between multiple inlets oroutlets (e.g., FIG. 5B). As an example, stanchions (not shown) may bepatterned in a foursome and fully support the cover 606 so that thecover 606 is free of contact with the housing 602 and the liquid isdrained between the stanchions (not shown) and down the tapered orfunneled shape. In this example, the liquid can be drained out ofmultiple inlets or outlets (not shown), which improves the rate ofliquid flow. In another example, the stanchions 626, 628 can have atapered structure, that is, a funnel-like shape, to form sides of thedrainage channel 624 so that liquid is directed downstream from theaudio assembly 604.

The drainage channel 624 has a tapered shape so that the liquid isefficiently funneled from the inlet 614 to the outlet 620 when thedrainage system 600 is in the shown orientation. Near the inlet 614, afirst portion 630 (FIGS. 6B and 6C) of the drainage channel 624 has awidth W₁ that is large so that more of the liquid can flow through theinlet 614 and down the drainage channel 624. At the outlet 620, theliquid flows to a second portion 632 (FIGS. 6B and 6C) that has a widthW₂ that is less than the width W₁. Between the first portion 630 and thesecond portion 632, the liquid is funneled over the audio assembly 604at a third portion 634 (FIGS. 6B and 6C) of the drainage channel 624(e.g. an audio portion or audio channel) that has a width W₃ that isless than the width W₁ of the first portion 630 and more than the widthW₂ of the second portion 632. In this configuration, the liquid bottlenecks below at least a portion of the audio assembly 604 so that theaudio assembly 604 is partially unobstructed while the liquid drainsfrom the drainage channel 624. The width W₁ may range between about 4 mmto about 10 mm. The width W₂ may range between about 0.5 mm to about 6mm. The width W₃ may range between about 4 mm to about 8 mm. At an endof the drainage channel 624, flanges 636, 638 (FIG. 6B) adjacent to orforming part of the stanchions 626, 628 are configured to direct theliquid out of the second portion 632 and into a large section of thedrainage channel 624 proximate to or integrated with the outlet 620 sothat the liquid can be drained from the drainage channel 624.

FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the drainage system 600 of FIGS. 6A-6B.Supporting the drainage system 600, the housing 602 includes the audioassembly 604 with the audio device 611 positioned below an exteriorsurface of the housing 602 and within the housing 602 at a location ofthe audio aperture 610. At the exterior surface of the housing 602, thewaterproof membrane 612 covers the audio aperture 610 and the audioassembly 604, with these components protected by the cover 606.

At the inlet 614, the cover 606 and the housing 602 are separated by alength L which, in part, controls the amount of liquid that is flow-ableinto the drainage system 600 and, subsequently, between the firstportion 630, the third portion 634, and the second portion 632 of thecontinuous drainage channel 624. As described in respect to FIGS. 6A-6B,the drainage channel 624 at the widths W₁, W₂, W₃ is tapered. As shownin FIG. 6C, the drainage channel 624 has a height H that is relativelyuniform along the first portion 630, the third portion 634, and thesecond portion 632. The height H and/or the length L may range betweenabout 0.5 mm to about 2 mm. The length L may be equal to, greater than,or less than the height H. In some examples (not shown), the height H ofthe drainage channel 624 may be tapered in a similar fashion as thewidths W₁, W₂, W₃ to control the flow of the liquid through the drainagechannel 624.

To further control flow in the drainage channel 624, the housing 602includes a surface with a slope 640 (FIG. 6C) proximate to or integratedwith the second portion 632. For example, the slope 640 may facilitatethe flow of liquid away from the audio assembly 604 when the drainagesystem 600 is positioned on a side of an image capture device, such asthe image capture device 100 of FIGS. 1A-1C, and the image capturedevice is positioned with a front surface and a rear surface in agenerally horizontal direction (e.g., the image capture device is restedon a front or a back instead of on a top or a bottom of the imagedevice). Any other part of the housing 602 may include another surfacewith a slope (not shown) that supports flow from the inlet 614 to theoutlet 620.

In the example shown in FIG. 6C, the slope 640, which also may bereferred to as a connecting level or a sloped structure, separates thedrainage channel 624 into a first level 642 (FIG. 6C) associated withthe audio assembly 604 and the inlet 614 and a second level 644 (FIG.6C) associated with the outlet 620. The first level 642 and the secondlevel 644 are shown parallel to each other. In other examples, thelevels 642, 644 can be positioned in another non-parallel,vertically-staggered configuration with the first level 642 at a depthinto the housing 602 that is less than that of the second level 644. Thelevels 642, 644 can be connected by the slope 640 that graduallytransitions between depths into the housing 602. In otherconfigurations, the drainage channel 624 may include more or fewerlevels (not shown) to improve flow efficiency from the inlet 614 to theoutlet 620. As the liquid flows from the first level 642, down the slope640, and to the second level 644, the liquid can gain momentum to bemore efficiently flushed out of the drainage system 600.

The cover 606 is FIG. 6C is shown as extending parallel to the entiresurface of the housing 602, including the slope 640, so that the cover606 also includes a sloped surface and liquid is efficiently directed tothe outlet 620. However, in other configurations, a plane (not shown)extending through the cover 606 may be offset from a plane (not shown)extending through the slope 640 or any other surface of the housing 602so that the liquid is moved more efficiently to the outlet 620. Theinlet 614 and the outlet 620 are shown as generally perpendicular fromeach other so that when the liquid flows through the drainage channel624, the liquid exits the outlet 620 without being obstructed by a wallor a surface of the housing 602, the outlet 620, or both. In otherconfigurations, the inlet 614 and the outlet 620 can be parallel so thatthe cover 606, the inlet 614, and the outlet 620 are within the sameplane (e.g., in the example described in respect to FIGS. 4A-4C).

The drainage systems 300, 500, 600 in this application are described asassociated with image capture devices such as the image capture device100 or the image capture device 210. The drainage systems 300, 500, 600may also be used with other electronic devices including audiocomponents that would benefit from rapid removal of liquids, forexample, image capture devices with a single image sensors and/orportable electronic devices without image sensors that include audiocomponents. Additional examples of electronic devices that couldimplement the drainage systems 300, 500, 600 described in thisapplication include hand-held audio recorders, remote control deviceswith voice control, and smart phones. Other electronic devices are alsopossible.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certainembodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to belimited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intendedto cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements includedwithin the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accordedthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: an audio assembly; a housing defining an aperture that interfaces with the audio assembly at an interior surface of the housing; stanchions coupled to an exterior surface of the housing at a location of the aperture; a cover coupled to the stanchions and free of contact with the housing; and a drainage channel extending between the cover, the exterior surface of the housing, and the stanchions, the drainage channel comprising: a first portion defining an inlet of the drainage channel, the first portion having a first width defined by the stanchions; and a second portion defining an outlet of the drainage channel, the second portion having a second width defined by the stanchions, wherein the stanchions are tapered in shape so that the first width is wider than the second width.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes flanges proximate to the outlet, the flanges configured to direct liquid out of the outlet.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a third portion, the third portion positioned between the audio assembly and the cover.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second portion is sloped from the third portion to the outlet so that liquid drains from the third portion to the outlet along the second portion.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion form the drainage channel that is continuous and has a height, the height being uniform throughout the drainage channel.
 6. The device of claim 3, wherein the first portion is tapered from the inlet to the third portion, and wherein the second portion is tapered from the third portion to the outlet.
 7. The device of claim 3, wherein the audio assembly comprises: an audio device housed within the interior surface of the housing at the aperture; and a waterproof membrane spaced a distance from the audio device and contacting the exterior surface of the housing, the waterproof membrane separating the third portion and the audio device.
 8. The device of claim 3, wherein the cover includes apertures patterned over the audio assembly to improve audio projection and reception and to drain liquid from the third portion.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover includes apertures that are detents.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the inlet and the outlet are perpendicular relative to each other.
 11. A drainage system, comprising: a cover depression having an upper level and a lower level defined in a housing of a device, the upper level extending across an aperture defined through the housing and being staggered in depth into the housing relative to the lower level, wherein the device comprises an audio assembly positioned at a location of the aperture; and a cover extending over the cover depression to define a drainage channel that extends from an inlet, over the audio assembly, across the upper level and the lower level of the cover depression, and to an outlet to drain moisture from the audio assembly, wherein the inlet interfaces with the upper level, and the outlet interfaces with the lower level.
 12. The drainage system of claim 11, wherein the cover depression includes a connecting level positioned between the upper level and the lower level, the connecting level configured as a slope between the upper level and the lower level.
 13. The drainage system of claim 11, wherein the drainage channel includes a first portion associated with the upper level and a second portion associated with the lower level, the first portion having a width, and the second portion having a width, and wherein the width of the first portion is wider than the width of the second portion.
 14. The drainage system of claim 13, wherein the cover includes apertures that are patterned over the audio assembly and the first portion so that the apertures and the outlet drain liquid in combination from the audio assembly.
 15. The drainage system of claim 11, further comprising: stanchions coupling the cover to the cover depression, the stanchions having a tapered structure from the inlet to the outlet.
 16. An image capture device, comprising: a housing including an exterior surface defining a depression, an opening within the depression, and a sloped structure along the depression; an audio assembly disposed adjacent to the opening; a cover coupled with the housing over the depression; an inlet positioned between a first edge of the cover and the housing and configured to facilitate a flow of liquid within the depression and over the audio assembly; an outlet positioned between a second edge of the cover and the housing and configured to facilitate the flow of the liquid across the audio assembly and out of the depression; and a drainage channel fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet between the housing and the cover, a shape of the drainage channel tapering from the inlet to the outlet.
 17. The image capture device of claim 16, wherein the sloped structure is positioned between the audio assembly and the outlet.
 18. The image capture device of claim 16, wherein the cover is coupled to the housing by stanchions, and wherein the stanchions have a tapered structure at sides of the drainage channel so that liquid is directed downstream from the audio assembly.
 19. The image capture device of claim 16, wherein the cover includes a sloped surface, and wherein the sloped surface of the cover is parallel with the sloped structure of the exterior surface.
 20. The image capture device of claim 16, wherein the drainage channel has a height measured between the cover and the exterior surface of the housing, and wherein the height of the drainage channel is substantially uniform between the outlet and the inlet. 